Program Coordinator/Contact

Program Information

The D.N.P. program was established in 2009. The program was developed in response to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Position Statement on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing. The position statement supported moving the preparation of advanced practice nurses from the M.S. in Nursing to the Doctoral level by the year 2015.

The purpose of the D.N.P. program is to prepare Advanced Practice Nurses (APRNs) to transform clinical practice as expert clinicians and leaders with a special focus on rural and underserved populations.

In addition to delivering evidence-based direct patient care at an advanced practice level to individuals across the lifespan in primary care settings, graduates of the D.N.P. program will learn skills needed to produce and implement valuable evidence to guide practice and are prepared to work collaboratively with rural communities in an effort to reduce health disparities.

Program Outcomes

To prepare graduates as clinicians and leaders with a special focus on rural and underserved populations.

To prepare graduates to deliver evidence-based direct patient care to individuals across the lifespan in primary care settings.

To prepare graduates to produce and implement scientific evidence to guide practice.

To prepare graduates to work collaboratively with frontier, urban, and rural communities in an effort to reduce health disparities.

Student Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the program, the graduate will successfully demonstrate the following competencies:

Analyze significant practice issues with the theoretical and scientific underpinnings of knowledge-based practice.